Site: Madison Square Garden
Time: 7 p.m.
TV: ESPNU (Adam Amin, Tim Welsh)
Radio: WTIC-AM 1080 (Joe D'Ambrosio, Wayne Norman)
Series history: St. John's, 34-28
Last meeting: UConn, 83-69, Dec. 31, 2011 at XL Center
Streaks: UConn, W3; St. John's, L1
UConn (15-5, 5-3)
13 SHABAZZ NAPIER, G, 6-1, Jr., 17.2 ppg – Big East player of week for second time
11 RYAN BOATRIGHT, G, 6-0, So., 16.2 – Shooting 45.6 percent from the floor
21 OMAR CALHOUN, G/F, 6-5, Fr., 10.7 –1 of 8 from the floor vs. South Florida
2 DeANDRE DANIELS, F, 6-8, So., 10.8 – Hit 2 of 10 from the floor vs. South Florida
10 TYLER OLANDER, C, 6-9, Jr., 4.7 – Averaging 3.9 rebounds in 21.5 minutes
1 ENOSCH WOLF, C, 7-1, Jr., 4.0 – Averaging 3.3 rebounds in 13.9 minutes
St. John's (14-8, 6-4)
14 JaKARR SAMPSON, F, 6-8, Fr., 14.4 ppg – Averaging 6.6 rebounds
15 SIR'DOMINIC POINTER, F, 6-5, So., 6.3 – Shooting 55 percent from the floor
11 D'ANGELO HARRISON, G, 6-3, So., 18.9 – Has made Big East honor roll six times
1 PHIL GREENE IV, G, 6-2, So., 8.8 – Has 2.1 assists-to-turnover ratio
12 CHRIS OBEKPA, C, 6-9, Fr., 3.7 – Leads NCAA in blocked shots with 99
What To Watch
PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL FATIGUE: UConn has played back-to-back emotional overtime games and could be vulnerable to a letdown.
BRANCH INJURY: If St. John's has to play without Branch, it could be a devastating loss. He has been an anchor during the team's resurgence.
BIG OBSTACLE: UConn put a lot of effort into recruiting Obekpa, but he chose to stay close to home. A devastating young shot blocker, he could pose matchup problems as the Huskies try to penetrate.
HOME AGAIN: A return to New York for Omar Calhoun, who looked nervous and struggled in his first game at the Garden, hitting 1 of 5 with three turnovers vs. N.C. State on Dec. 4.
ON REBOUNDING: St. John's has been outrebounded by opponents, so perhaps this is a board-battle that the Huskies can win.
DOM AMORE I damore@courant.com
